B⁻

Schools in Porter Township · Lawton Community School District, Marcellus Community Schools

Porter Township’s public schools outscore 53% of Michigan districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Porter Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

42%

▼ 3 pts vs MI 45%

2021–22

Math proficiency

31%

▼ 3 pts vs MI 34%

2021–22

Graduate on time

75–79%

▼ 3–7 pts vs MI 82%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$13.4K

▼ 19% vs MI $16.5K

FY2024 · Lawton

Students per teacher

16.7

MI 16.5

Schools in town

1,561 students on the public path

In brief

Porter Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1083 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Porter Township’s, its schools beat 33%, lower than their 53% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 42% of tested students were proficient in reading and 31% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan (the state reports Porter Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Lawton spends $13,365 per student and Marcellus $16,208, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Porter Township’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 53% of Michigan school districts. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 53%

Lower resultsHigher results

Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1083)Better than 33%

Towns in Van Buren County (18)Better than 78%

C⁺B⁺A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 841 test results and a graduating class of 85 could put Porter Township anywhere from C+ to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Porter Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (846 in math, 836 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Porter Township, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in Porter Township · depends on your address

Lawton Elementary School

Grades PK–4 · 397 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in Lawton

B⁻

Marcellus Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 264 students · 19:1 students per teacher · in Marcellus

C⁺

The path, start to finish

PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC⁺ to B⁻

6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC

9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB⁻ to B

Porter Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Lawton Community School District). From grade PK, students attend the Marcellus Community Schools, shared with Marcellus, Marcellus, Newberg and Volinia. Its elementary school is in Lawton. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Porter Township

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Lawton Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,027 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 15.6 per teacher (MI 16.5)

$13,365MI $16,528 · FY2024

B⁻

Marcellus Community SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 600 students, down 10% since 2021–22 · 18.9 per teacher (MI 16.5)

$16,208MI $16,528 · FY2024

Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Lawton Community School District42%

State average 45.4% · 517 students tested

Math · PK–12, Lawton Community School District29%

State average 33.6% · 527 students tested

Reading · PK–12, Marcellus Community Schools42%

State average 45.4% · 319 students tested

Math · PK–12, Marcellus Community Schools34%

State average 33.6% · 319 students tested

Porter Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Porter Township’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Porter Township	B⁻	Lawton PK–12 · Marcellus PK–12
Decatur	B⁻	Decatur
Marcellus	B	Marcellus
Prairie Ronde	A	Schoolcraft
Antwerp	A⁻	Mattawan Consolidated School PK–12 · Lawton PK–12 · Paw Paw Public PK–12

Every school in Porter Township

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Porter Townshipin other towns

Lawton Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Lawton

B⁻

397 students13:1Rate it →

Marcellus Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Marcellus

C⁺

264 students19:1Rate it →

Lawton Middle School

Middle · Grades 5–8 · Lawton

325 students17:1Rate it →

Marcellus Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Marcellus

136 students23:1Rate it →

Lawton High School

High · Grades 8–12 · Lawton

279 students19:1Rate it →

Marcellus High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Marcellus

B⁻

160 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Porter Township’s schools

Are Porter Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Porter Township children attend outscore 53% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 33%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Porter Township in?

Two districts: Lawton Community School District runs grades PK–12, and Marcellus Community Schools runs grades PK–12, shared with Marcellus, Marcellus, Newberg and Volinia.

Where do Porter Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Lawton High School and Marcellus High School.

What is Porter Township’s graduation rate?

75–79% of the class of 2023 in Lawton Community School District graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Porter Township spend per student?

$13,365 in Lawton Community School District and $16,208 in Marcellus Community Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Porter Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Porter Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.